A 99th Bombardment Wing aircrew runs to their awaiting B-52D Stratofortress parked in the alert area at Westover in this late 1960s photo. Note the black and green paint scheme on the bombers; this photo was probably taken between the wing's ongoing Arc Light and Linebacker deployments for the Vietnam War. Also note the 99th BW shield installed in the ground in the left foreground. Almost any SAC troop I have spoken with will talk about the alerts. They were as common an occurrence as many other events military people were part of or witnessed. The B-52s sat at the "Christmas tree" ramp area, its nickname derived from the shape of the huge parking aprons for the giant bombers. These airplanes were fully loaded with weapons designed to obliterate Soviet Union targets.

From retired Lt. Col. Gar Fletcher, former SAC member at Westover:The Christmas tree was a single ramp which had 5 aircraft pointed toward the runway. The furthest back facing outward was a single aircraft. While to its right and left at a 45 degree angle to the centerline were the other four aircraft. From above, the layout of the aircraft put you in mind of a giant Christmas Tree. These five aircraft were assigned to crews that were assigned to the Mole Hole Facility right next to the Christmas Tree. This total arrangement allowed for the fastest possible reaction for these five aircraft. There was no priority or order for the five to come out. Whichever aircraft had started their aircraft and copied the proper taxi or launch message first, went first. The rest of the alert aircraft and the rest of the alert force were arranged and located to allow for the total alert aircraft force to be able to follow right behind the 5 Christmas tree aircraft as they entered onto the runway for takeoff.

This photo shows B-52Ds on alert at Westover, circa early 1970s. Even though the 99th Bomb Wing was heavily involved in the Vietnam War, the alert requirement was still very much a part of the mission.

This shot is from the 1964 Boone Publications base guide. That's B-52D tail #55-052. Note the vintage Ford that the crew is running from, as well as the location of this alert - certainly away from the "Christmas tree" area. Only recently did I learn that there were actually MORE B-52s on alert than just in that area. In retrospect, I would surmise that the Soviets certainly had Westover on their minds! The amount of nuclear firepower capability was awesome - but the 45 C- and D-model bombers must have put the base high on the Soviets' target list. SAC incorporated this thinking into their dispersal strategy. In 1961, the Air Force relocated the 347th Bombardment Squadron to McCoy AFB, Fla. Westover never had more than two squadrons of bombers after that.

A B-52D (left) and a B-52C sit on the "Christmas Tree" in 1971. The BUFFs are part of a "Coco" alert. All of Westover's C-models were sent to the boneyard that same year, so this might be one of the last glimpses of the aircraft in the foreground, which is serial #54-2686.

KC-135 #58-0053 is one of three KC-135s parked on the tanker alert ramp in this excellent 1959 Springfield Republican photo. The 99th Air Refueling Squadron flew 20 of what were then brand new aircraft. Note the SAC "Milky Way" band and "Ramrod" nose art. Also look to the right of the crew ladder for "LET'S GET IT OFF ON TIME," the slogan for the maintenance team and crew members. The black and white photo doesn't allow the bright Day-Glo paint to be seen, but the newspaper caption explains its purpose. It's unknown where these tankers were parked and whether they were in alert status. The Stratotankers and its crews were the unsung partners with the B-52s. The reality is that the bombers couldn't fulfill the mission without the tankers' support. I intend to provide plenty of coverage of this aircraft in my upcoming book and on this web site. Time and stellar performances in the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and the two Gulf Wars have proven the value of this airplane. Nearly 50 years later, the KC-135 is still the backbone of the Air Force tanker fleet.

Holyoke Transcript-Telegram clipping provided by Stan Lukasiewicz)

CHROME DOME - A Westover B-52C soars above the clouds during a Chrome Dome mission, circa early 1960s. Chrome Dome missions sent Westover aircrews across the globe towards targets in the Soviet Union.

(Photo from 1969 Westover AFB guide, by Boone Publications)

(Photo provided by David Henry, who was stationed at the base in 1970)